As the only rider for the USA at the Hickstead CDIO 3*** Katherine Bateson-Chandler and her mentor Carl Hester both competed in the same Grand Prix division, and Katherine had a big concern. “This year my husband Carl (Chandler) who usually comes with me to shows had to travel back home to the states during the show so I was on my own with Lonzie (Alcazar by Contango out of a Ferro mare, owned by Jane Forbes Clark). It was actually fun and like the old days,” said Chandler who has trained for years with Hester spending the summers in her native England at his farm in Newent, Gloucestershire, about two hours north of London. “We had lots of bonding time! Carl H had to take my boots off and do some preparing for the Grand Prix Freestyle which was a bit of a worry but he managed!”

The Australian Kristy Oatley was able to move forward and win this year's Grand Prix JFC Duffort Motors - Manors of Tourgéville, the first important competition of the only international dressage competition organized in Normandy. After placing 11th last year in this same class, Oatley with the giant Ronan 2 finished ahead of Portuguese Ricardo Wallenstein (2nd) and the French Marc Boblet (3rd). In the Prix St. George, Jonna Schelstraete (NED) gave the Netherlands their first success just ahead of Francoise Hologne-Joux (BEL) and Jennifer Hoffmann (USA) 2nd and 3rd respectively.

This week's featured StallionMarket stallion is Consul who stands at Iron Spring Farm in Coatesville, PA. Consul continues to be one of the leading sires at Iron Spring Farm and is known for producing remarkable athletes for every discipline. Among his international stars are the show jumper Judgement ISF and the four-star eventer Critical Decision. His daughter, the Keur mare Hivona, is a Produce of Dam winner at Dressage at Devon and continues to be one of the top producing broodmares in the KWPN-NA. Consul's Grand Prix dressage offspring include Zanzibar, Jamboree and Najinska. Zanzibar won three USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse classes at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in 2014 and finished 3rd at the 2013 USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships.

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is seeking videos of any tests, amateur or professional, all levels, including musical freestyles to replenish material for the Continuing Education Program. “Ones with errors and shies are great learning tools also, they don't have to be perfect tests,” encourages Sharon Vander Ziel, Senior Education Coordinator. Videos are one of the handiest and most concrete tools for educating students progressing through the USDF L Education Program, the new Musical Freestyle course and the Upgrade Your Judging Eye sessions, where classroom lectures are combined with practice judging of movements, or full tests using videotapes/DVDs.

TheraPlate Revolution is the Official Therapy Plate of the United States Equestrian Federation Photo: Sara Hellner

Weatherford, Texas – TheraPlate Revolution is proud to announce that it is now the Official Therapy Plate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). TheraPlates are highly effective therapy platforms that use dynamic movement to improve fitness, help relieve the causes of pain, and foster healing in horses, humans, and other animals. “The USEF is pleased to welcome TheraPlate Revolution as the Official Therapy Plate of the United States Equestrian Federation,” says USEF CEO Chris Welton. “We look forward to TheraPlate’s support of the USEF, and know that TheraPlate’s effective therapy platforms will make it an ideal partner for the USEF.”

First time out at Prix St Georges, 13-year-old Sammie Fritz riding Rohanna, her 13.2 hand, 13-year-old Holsteiner-Welsh by Rapport earned 61.7% and 64+% to secure her USDF Silver Medal. But now time had come to sell Rohanna. Sammie was already riding a bigger mount at the riding school but being only two Prix St George scores from her Silver Medal, she paired with her wonder pony partner one during the June Dressage at Alpine I and II, in Medina, MN. achieving her scores in their first two tests; A poignant closure to a stellar career for both pony and child. The only rider in her family, Sammie’s enthusiasm and mindset sound well suited to the discipline. “I just love the beauty and the time and effort of dressage,” she says.

“Premier Equestrian” Adreinne Lyle (center) with Mark Neihart (left), CEO of Premier Equestrian, and Heidi Zorn (right), President of Premier Equestrian, at Premier’s booth at the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage and Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals
Las Vegas, Nevada – From the red carpet to centerline, “Premier Equestrians” were in top form as Las Vegas welcomed the finest dressage and jumping riders in the world for the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage and Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Premier Equestrian, which provided the world-class dressage arenas and flower boxes for the prestigious event, also rolled out a red carpet for visitors and competitors with its own exceptional cast of welcoming stars, known as “Premier Equestrians.” The lineu...

Custom Saddlery rider Steffen Peters (center) took photos with his fans, including Custom Saddlery saddlefitters Sarah Boothe (left) and Hillary Boothe (right), at the USEF booth at the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage and Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals
Las Vegas, Nevada - A highlight of the World Cup for Custom Saddlery was the “Selfies with Steffen” event that Custom sponsored at the USEF booth on Thursday, April 16 - directly after Steffen Peters’s amazing third place finish in the Grand Prix aboard Legolas 92 with a 76.843 percent. Hundreds of enthusiastic show attendees lined up to snap a photo with the Olympic athlete, who is sponsored by Custom Saddlery and calls Custom saddles “simply the best dressage saddles on the market.” Peters also signed Custom Saddlery visors...

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin holds the new Reem Acra trophy aloft after making it a back-to-back double of victories with the amazing Valegro at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final (FEI/Dirk Caremans)
The sensational British duo, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, secured their second consecutive title when winning the Freestyle at the Reeem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final at the Thomas...

The 2015 World Cup Finals' podium: Edward Gal, Charlotte Dujardin, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
There was no surprise and no challenge for Charlotte Dujardin to reclaim her world cup title as she cruised to victory in the Kur to Music at the 2015 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas on Saturday 18 April 2015. After earning her first World Cup title in 2014 in Lyon, Dujardin extended the honour this year and shared the World Cup podium with Dutch Edward Gal and German Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. Charlotte Dujardin put in an immaculate ride to her much beloved music based on the Disney animated movie How to Train Your Dragon. Valegro is a very lightfooted mover despite being a musled athlete.
Read the full story on Eurodressage.com!

Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, lived up to expectations winning the Grand Prix on the opening day of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final (FEI/Dirk Caremans)
Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, lived up to expectations when winning the Grand Prix on the opening day of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final at the Thomas...

Kalispell, Mont. - The inaugural CCI3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm came to its conclusion on Sunday with the jumping phase at the picturesque venue. USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Kurt Martin and Delux Z made quite an impression at the competition, taking home the win in spectacular fashion as the only combination in the division...

Toronto, Canada— Omega Alpha Ambassadors represented the complete spectrum of the Three-Day Eventing medals podium at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. American rider Lauren Kieffer anchored her squad to Team Gold, while Canadian Jessica Phoenix clinched the Individual Silver and shared the Team Bronze medal with Colleen Loach and...

Caledon, Ont. - The United States Eventing Team finished a stellar week of competition at the 2015 Pan American Games held at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Ontario, Canada. Superlative efforts by Philip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little, and Boyd Martin resulted in a Team Gold medal and a berth at the 2016 Olympic Games. Adding to their...

The 41st Adequan/FEI North American Championships for Juniors and Young Riders came to a close yesterday after six hectic days of competition at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA. This is the only FEI Championship held annually in North America, and the 2015 fixture, open to competitors from 14 to 21 years, offered medal opportunities in the...

While the biggest focus was on those last three riders, it is all of the riders that deserve to be recognized starting with the first two who kicked off the course with fault free rounds. After both the dressage and the cross-country rounds the starting field of 43 horses in show jumping for the Pan American Games eventing competition was down to...

America scooped both the team and individual titles as Eventing came to a close today at the Pan-American Games 2015 in Caledon Park, Toronto, Canada. Always with their eyes on the target of that single qualifying spot on offer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Philip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little and Boyd Martin forged a marginal lead...

It is often said that one must consider an issue from multiple perspectives prior to forming an opinion. To that end, I ask for the opportunity to express my view on the most recent developments in the field of animal welfare and humane treatment as it pertains to administering medications to our valued equine athletes. I’ll begin with a brief...

Closing the 2015 edition of the NRHA European Affiliate Championship held at the Petit Far West in Le Pin, France, was the $5,000-added EA Open sponsored by Cowboy’s Magazine. Writing yet another piece of history was NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Bernard Fonck of Belgium, riding Sail On Top Whizard (Whizard Jac x Miss N Sis x Miss N Cash), owned by...

The EA Limited Non Pro Championship, sponsored by AGP Imprimerie, opened the day in Le Pin. Winning the first title of the day, and keeping the French flag high, was Jean Francois Ayoul riding his 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding Slide On Sal (Lenas Wright On x Smart Sally x Smart Chic Olena). “My goal coming here was the podium, so actually...

Only 34 more days until Aachen – the countdown is on for the 2015 FEI European Championships Reining. Switzerland is the first nation who announces their team:
Jennifer Schleiniger, Matzendorf (SO), and Masked Gunman The 32-year-old occupational therapist has been a part of the Swiss national squad since 2013. Her show record includes: NRHA CH...

The American Quarter Horse Association, - In an on-going effort to enhance this year’s Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Adequan Select and AQHA world championship shows, AQHA is boosting its video services and making them free for everyone to watch online. The dates for these events are:
July 31 - August 8 – Ford Youth World in Oklahoma City
August 28 -...

Germany dominated the Junior category while the Italians claimed a huge haul of Young Rider medals at the FEI European Reining Championships for Juniors and Young Riders 2015 which drew to a close at Givrins in Switzerland yesterday. Staged over two days at Corinna Schumacher’s CS Ranch which lies halfway between Geneva and Lausanne, the event...

Ocala, FL — Chester Weber returned to The Netherlands on July 16-19 for the Beekbergen CAI 3*, masterfully winning its Cones phase with the only fault-free performance of its division and finishing fifth overall among its international entries. The Ocala, Florida horseman demonstrated anew why he and his matched bay KWPN team are in the top ten...

West Springfield, Massachusetts- International driver Suzy Stafford continues her season dominating the Training level Driven Dressage Division the show debut at the Vermont Morgan Spring Classic on June 18th with the Morgan gelding “Acrosstime Black Cotton” (Cassanova’s Cashon x Sleepys Jessie Dee). The Big E was a wonderful venue for the Morgan...

Here is the first photo tour of our summer dog and pony show was off, on a tour that would cover 5 states in three weeks full of fun, competition, training, exploration, visits with friends and family. We loaded up three ponies, 2 carriages, 3 dogs, and 3 humans. We set off from our home base farm in south central Kentucky, on a relatively short...

Kentucky is the place to be in October for the sport of Combined Driving as well as other related driving activities, and now there is one more event added to the roster. Two time Pony Driving World Champion, Bram Chardon (NED) will be coming to The Gayla Driving Center, October 9, 10, and 11, for a mega clinic and symposium covering all three...

At the 2015 American Horse Publications Awards Banquet many outstanding equine publications were recognized for various achievements throughout the year. Driving DigestMagazine walked away from the banquet with two awards. Competing against publications such Equus, Western Horseman, and American Quarter Horse Journal, the magazine owned and...

Bromont, Quebec - American driver James Fairclough is still leading the FEI2* Horse Four-In-Hand Division after the marathon phase at the Bromont International Driving, held June 19 to 21, 2015. After the dressage phase on Friday, James Fairclough was in first place with a total of 55.21 penalty points, ahead of Kentucky's Misdee Wrigley-Miller,...

Bromont, Quebec - The Bromont International Driving launched its 14th edition yesterday at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park where all teams competed in the first leg of the event, the dressage phase.
In the FEI2* Four-In-Hand Division, driver James Fairclough (NJ) is in first place after the dressage phase with a total of 55.21 penalty points...

Del Mar, CA - A gorgeous sunset framed Emma Waldfogel's win aboard her own King's Peak in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Showpark Racing Festival. The pair gave a solid performance in the Classic Round, but clinched the win with a gorgeous Handy Round. It was the talented amateur rider's first derby win.
The two judging...

Del Mar, CA - Truly a race up until the last ride, the $40,000 Racing Festival Grand Prix, presented by Equestrian Almanac, kept everyone on the edge of their seats. In the end, the talented Ashlee Bond and Little Valley Farms' Cornancer earned the mare's first Grand Prix win against a field of talented competitors.
International FEI course...

Lexington, KY - Saturday night at the Kentucky Horse Park ushered in hundreds of spectators for Hats Off Day and one of Sydney Shulman's biggest career grand prix wins. The 20-year-old and her mount Venice bested a field of 36 horse-and-rider combinations to win the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. "I...

Wayne, IL- Week one of the two-week Equifest series at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, concluded with the $7,500 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic. Ten riders rode for the check with only four qualifying for the jump-off.
Emma Sargent of Kenilworth, IL, aboard No Fear, took the blue ribbon with a time...

East Dorset, Vermont – Madeleine Gastineau of Doylestown, PA, and Limited Edition finished the fourth week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival with a win in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Summit Performance, on Sunday, July 26. A high school senior at Central Bucks High School East in Doylestown,...

Ludger Beerbaum explained the German team's aim at the home game in Aachen. After the Nations' Cup weekend in Mannheim, where they once again didn't manage to take the victory, his résumé was sobering: "We didn't manage it again, we haven't managed to win for a damn long time recently. It is not just bad luck. The team has got to give itself a...

Wayne, IL-- Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne, IL, set a record today with the largest prize money single event hosted at the show grounds, during the first week of the two-week Equifest series. The $75,000 Grand Prix hosted in the SmartPak Grand Prix Ring, featured 27 riders competing for the money with only 5 making it to the jump off on the...

Überherrn, Germany - Rebecca Hart and Schroeter's Romani earmarked a page in history over Independence Day-weekend. Representing the United States overseas, Hart and Romani broke their personal records, riding to their first European scores over 70 percent at the CPEDI3* Überherrn 2015, celebrating the holiday weekend in a unique style. "I am super excited that Romani has brisked the situation and done her job super well," Hart said. "It meant a lot to have all of our hard work show during our tests, and to break a 70 percent during European competition, that was really exciting." On the opening day of the competition, Hart kicked off the Grade II test in top form, riding Romani to the score of 73.137 percent for the second place.
The Ground Jury consisted of Marco Orsini (GER), Jacque...

U.S. Chef d’ Equipe Kai Handt at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with rider Roxie Trunnell and horse Touche.
The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to present a 2 ½ day Para Equestrian Dressage Symposium at the Golden State Dressage CPEDI3*, Rancho Murieta, California on June 14-16, 2015, 8AM-5PM. Designed as a "Develop the Coach" format, select U.S. High Performance and developing Para Equestrian Dressage riders and coaches will benefit from lectures and ride feedback by 5* FEI Para Equestrian Dressage Judge Carlos Lopes, supported by USEF Para Equestrian Dressage Chef d'Equipe Kai Handt. Topics include Para-Dressage theory, scales of training, quality of horse, freestyles, and preparation for international competition. Demonstrations on para-dressag...

U.S. Chef d' Equipe Kai Handt works with Paralympic Dressage Trainer Wes Dunham. (Photo: Lindsay Y. McCall)
Lyman, ME - Carlisle Academy in Lyman, Maine, a Premier Accredited PATH Center and national leader in grassroots development for para-equestrian sports, is coordinating a Para-Equestrian Pipeline Training Camp May 26-30, 2015. Expert international para-equestrian clinicians, seasoned medalists, therapists, and coaches with their riders will congregate for training and education in this growing sport. The primary focus will be on para-dressage but demonstrations and information will be available for emerging para-equestrian disciplines such as para-driving and para-reining. The United States Equestrian Federation and United States Para-Equestrian Association are in support of these...

Kjell Myhre talks to riders at the 2015 USEF High Performance Southeast Para Equestrian Dressage Symposium in Wellington, FL, January 12-13. (Photo: (C) Lindsay Y. McCall)
Wellington, FL - Following the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* select U.S. Para-Dressage athletes and coaches had an opportunity to attend the USEF High Performance Southeast Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium. This symposium took place January 12-13, 2014, at the Global Dressage Festival show grounds in Wellington, Florida. Over two days U.S. High Performance and developing Para-Dressage coaches and riders were immersed in the international equestrian discipline of Para-Dressage. Topics included Para-Dressage theory, scales of training, para-dressage test riding, quality of horse, freestyles, preparation...

USA Team (Left to right): Sydney Collier, Annie Peavy, Rebecca Hart, U.S. Chef D' Equipe Kai Handt, and Roxanne Trunnell (Photo: (C) Lindsay Y. McCall)
Wellington, FL - Thirteen Para-Dressage horse and rider combinations made their way to Wellington, Florida, this January for the first CPEDI3* of the 2015 show season. Para-Equestrians from Canada and the United States in Grades Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV, competed at the spectacular Global Dressage venue in the Van Kampen Arena. FEI Ground Jury members Mr. Freddy Leyman (BEL), Mr. Kjell Myhre (NOR), and Ms. Kristi Wysocki (USA) were on hand to offer their expertise for each Para-Dressage duo. This CPEDI3* is one of the qualifiers for the 2015 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships, 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National C...

Robyn Andrews and Fancianna (Photo: SusanJStickle.com)
Ottawa, ON. - On the final day of competition at CPEDI3* Global Dressage Festival I presented by Adequan, Robyn Andrews won her test for the second day in a row for Canada. The competition was held at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., Jan. 9-11, 2015. Andrews of St. Johns, N.L. secured the victory in the Grade Ia Freestyle test riding her 2014 World Equestrian Games mare 14-year-old Fancianna, a Friesian-Andalusian cross, to a score of 67.917%. "I was pleased with Fancy today," said Andrews. "I was a bit tired, but we pulled it off. Many thanks must go to the Global Dressage Festival for putting on a great show. Special thanks to my coach, Amanda Kalvoda; chef d'équipe, Elizabeth Quigg; Pa...

U.S. Chef D' Equipe Kai Handt jogs Rubicon 75, ridden by Mary Jordan, owned by Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (Photo (c) Lindsay Y. McCall)
Wellington, FL - Para-Equestrian Dressage athletes from around the North American continent have landed in Wellington, Florida, for the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3*. This is the first CPEDI3* event for the 2015 calendar year. Thirteen horse and rider combinations presented their mounts in front of FEI Ground Jury members Mr. Freddy Leyman (BEL), Mr. Kjell Myhre (NOR), and Ms. Kristi Wysocki (USA). Para-Equestrians from Canada and the United States will compete January 9-11, in The Van Kampen covered arena at the Global Dressage Festival. Friday, January 9, is the FEI Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Test, followed by Saturday's FE...

Kai Handt and Wes Dunham showcase collaborative coaching at the Northeast Symposium in 2013. Rider Sydney Collier aboard her own Wentworth works on gaits. (Photo (C) Lindsay Y. McCall)
Wellington, FL - The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF), is excited to announce a two-day Para Equestrian Dressage Symposium to be held at Global Dressage, Wellington, Florida, January 12 & 13, 2015, 8 AM-4 PM. Select U.S. High Performance and developing Para- Equestrian Dressage riders and coaches will be attending the symposium. Auditors are welcome to attend for $75. Pre-registering as an auditor is not required. Please contact Laureen Johnson at USEF at lkjohnson@usef.org if you are interested in audit...